fiscal cliff. after the vote, a rare late-night statement from president obama. >> this law is just one step in the broader effort to strengthen our economy and broaden the opportunity for everybody. >> lawmakers completely blew their deadline. they didn't get the grand bargain that both parties claim was their ultimate goal. but tonight both democrats and republicans gave themselves credit forgetting something done. >> this is a very, very strong first step. >> this is an important one. this is a critical one for the future of the country. >> there was considerable happened wringing about a lack of spending cuts. some wanted to add them in, but ultimately there weren't enough votes to get it passed. the bill was overwhelming bipartisan support would extend tax cuts for all tax earners earning less than $400,000 a year and tax hikes on those estates worth $5 million. and benefits set to expire for some two million people. since congress missed the january 1st midnight deadline, technically the coun